suitcase

[jill]

A word from the (less) wise...it's better to bring two med suitcases instead of one huge one. It costs less too. Thank goodness the airline person let me put my dirty laundry into Suzys suitcase, or it would have cost me $50.

[SusanL]

On Southwest the limit used to be 70 pounds, this past trip I had to pay $25.00 because the suitcase was over 50 pounds, it was close to 60. Now if I had been thinking I could have taken something out of it and carried it on with me but duh I just paid it. they did say you can check 3 pieces of luggage so I should take a second suitcase next time so this doesn't happen again.

[Robin]

I'm surprised they don't go by combined weight.

I usually go with a small bag and a duffel, simply because the big one is hard to lift.

[BetsyAnn]

Thanks Jill! great Tip! -- you can also pack into one suitcase then repack into the second one and have like an empty suitcase with you!

[Rosebud]

Some airlines are getting very serious about the weight, the size, and the amount limits lately. They definitely do the weight per bag and don't combine them, which seems silly, but that is what they do. They pretty much used to ignore the guidelines before and not even mention it if the suitcase was too big OR too heavy OR even an extra bag. Now it is getting common for them to make you pay extra, so you should review the specifics of the airline you are flying prior to going to the airport to make sure you don't pay extra.

[FLSharon]

It could be an issue for the luggage handlers... I too was overweight the last trip,but fortunatley i had a bag inside to hold purchases for the return trip. so i just loaded it and checked it separately. Not sure what i did with all the stuff i bought... maybe i didn't shop so much... :roll:

[SuzyQ]

Yeah - having to lug someone's stinky laundry is no fun thing! :rofl: (Just kidding!) ;)

We have started doing medium size suitcases exclusively. That way, we don't have to worry about weather they are overpacked and getting too heavy.

Though, I'm with Robin; I can't understand why they just don't say 100 pounds total rather than 50 pounds for each. :shrug:

[Rosebud]

Im sure it is an issue for the luggage handlers, but that is not why they are actually doing the charging. They are trying to make up revenue. In the past I have had heavy enough luggage that they even put a "heavy load" ticket on my bags so the handlers knew before touching it, but they didn't charge me a cent even though their rules at the time said they could, it just wasn't something they used to do. Just doing a total sounds logical to us, but it doesn't make business sense moneywise and that is what they are after.

[Sheryl]

This is something I will have to be careful with this summer, because I am a terrible overpacker. I usually take an extra bag for all of my purchases, maybe I better plan on taking two.

Sheryl

[ddoll]

This just makes it more difficult to travel with all the kids, because it means more bags.

Maybe the baggage handlers are filing for Workman's comp with back injuries from lifting those heavy bags?? 8)